Question: Home is Hilliard but Columbus Schools (Westerville, Gahanna: transfer, theater)

[knux11]

I will be relocating to OH soon with my employer. Can anyone tell me if the home that I have fallen in love with is worth having or am I over reacting?

My fist priority is my children's education. I was told the development I was looking at was located in Hilliard but my children would attend Columbus schools. The look on the realtor's face said it all but no words were spoken. Is this a bad decision for us to make? How bad at Columbus schools compared to Hilliard? I can pull data on this subject all day, but I want to hear from others who may know more personal information.

[phospho]

Originally Posted by knux11

I will be relocating to OH soon with my employer. Can anyone tell me if the home that I have fallen in love with is worth having or am I over reacting?

My fist priority is my children's education. I was told the development I was looking at was located in Hilliard but my children would attend Columbus schools. The look on the realtor's face said it all but no words were spoken. Is this a bad decision for us to make? How bad at Columbus schools compared to Hilliard? I can pull data on this subject all day, but I want to hear from others who may know more personal information.

how about personal experience... I grew up in Columbus, but not really Columbus - it was on the "outskirts" of Hilliard. Nonetheless, I did have to go through the Columbus schooling system. Almost all of my friends, however, were from the hilliard schools. Let's put it this way, I am a third year medical student at Ohio State, and the majority of my friends that graduated from those hilliard schools are either druggies, doctors, dropouts, or whatever.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I know too many people who have tried both sides. Please don't make the mistake of thinking that it's the school's fault that your son didn't get a full ride to OSU, or that your children could have been better if they went to hillard.

It's all about how you raise your kids, the values you instill in them, and the goals that YOU teach them how to set for themselves.

I do see your point of concern - it is very valid. It is true that the schools in hilliard are better, and the schools in columbus are a bit lower in scale - and that's only because the people who can afford to live in Hilliard (who aren't as many as the ppl who live cols) are rich enough to pay those taxes and invest in their educational system.

Bottom line: If I was in the fortunate position of not having the dilemma you were in, where I could choose Columbus or Hilliard - I would choose Hilliard. Better books, better teachers, better everything.

If I had to choose between giving up the home I fell in love with over hilliard schools - never. I would stick with the home, and spend time with the children, and believe that I can make them whoever I want. Whether teaching them to read at an earlier age, or buiying them extra books, or focusing on nothing but their education when they are young. It's all about how you manage in the house.

I'm going to be an MD in one year. Yes, it might be because I worked hard. But I am going to a doctor because of the sense my parents put into me. If I cussed like the rest of my classmates, I got yelled at. If I got less than a B, I would have to come up with a better way to study. It goes on and on.

look at me rambling here trying to procastinate... i better get back to my studying now...but believe me, it's what you put in them...not what the system puts into them for you.

[NewToCA]

I transferred to Hilliard when my kids were entering the 6th and 8th grades. Their school experience was generally positive, and both are college graduates, one from Ohio State and the other from Ohio University. The schools were very responsive to any problems that arose, and had the Davidson High School drama and theater arts program was top notch.

I agree though, that upbringing means a lot too. But unlike my fellow poster, I'd go with the Hilliard schools and find another house. I'm not disagreeing with phospho, I just have a different personal perspective.

[twixcookie]

We lived in Columbus, and our kids went to Hilliard schools, I wasn't aware it could be the other way around. If you live in Hilliard proper, I thought your kids go to Hilliard schools. Better check that one out. If you are in some rural districts, your kids still go to Hilliard schools.
Make sure this is correct.

[bgfalcons86]

We live in Hilliard proper and have been very happy with the schools. A few years ago, we ran into a family that lived in City of Columbus, but with a Hilliard ZIP Code. They were in the Columbus CSD. I don't know if they had assumed that since the ZIP Code was Hilliard that they would be in Hilliard schools. Suffice it to say, they were unhappy in Columbus CSD.

Also, the latest preliminary test scores are out and Hilliard met 21 of 23 indicators, with Columbus meeting 2 out of 23 indicators. They're certainly is a danger in over-emphasizing test scores, but this is just more food for thought.

[kimmaklyn]

Ohio schools have open enrollment, which means that your children can go to school wherever you want, regardless of where you live as long as you can provide transportation. so if your kids are old enough to drive themselves, or you know someone who can drive them, do it. i'm not from the columbus area, but i live in Ohio and was going to school to be a teacher. do some research, visit each school up to the 12th grade, talk to the teachers, then make the decision with your kids.

[CortlandGirl79]

Just a correction, NOT all Ohio school districts have open enrollment. I would check the specifics on that if i were you.

[BigVill]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

Just a correction, NOT all Ohio school districts have open enrollment. I would check the specifics on that if i were you.

Yes there are many school districts around Columbus that are not open enrollment. Bexley is one that I am sure of. Hilliard schools are much better than Columbus Public. You should check with the Hilliard Schools to see if they are open enrollment or find another house.

Your problem probably happened because of the weird zip code situation in Columbus caused by all of the annexations. Many people live in Columbus, but have a suburb zip code and sometimes even mailing address. There is an area on Morse Road that has a Gahanna zip code(43230), is in Westerville City Schools, but is actually a part of Columbus. Many people who appear to live in New Albany(43054), Canal Winchester(43110), and Blacklick(43004) actually live in Columbus. The same is true in Hilliard.